Non IG Insurance Companies / Protection & Indemnity Clubs are not allowed to obtain Bunker Convention Certificate in UAE anymore

On 08 April 2021 the Federal Maritime Authority of United Arab Emirates (FMA) issued ‘Circular No. (04) Of 2021’ notifying ship owners, Manager, operators, UAE port authority, Classification societies, shipping Agents in the UAE and IG of P&I that effective from 23rd of June 2021 , all UAE flagged ships including oil tankers over 1,000 gross tonnage is required to obtain the Bunker Convention Certificate from FMA. The FMA will issue the Bunker convention certificate upon presenting a valid blue card issued by a member of the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (IG).

The implications for vessels entered with P&I insurers outside of the IG will be considerable, and ship owners and their insurers should be mindful of the new implemented Circular.

Fortunately, the FMA declared that the certificates issued for UAE flag ships before 23rd June 2021 by other Flag Administrations will remain valid until their expiration date. We are aware that negotiations between some of vessel owners, their insurers and the FMA, are ongoing to obtain exemption from the said requirement.